Western Oregon Plan Revisions
P.O. BOX 2965
Portland, OR  97208

The Western Oregon Plan Revisions (WOPR) will greatly increase logging
of old-growth (>120-year-old) forests, much to the detriment of the
Spotted Owl. As you know, Spotted Owl habitat is mainly old-growth
forestland; it is in such forests that they thrive and expand in
population. They can hang on for a few years in younger stands, but
the population declines and they eventually die out.

If you look at how northern Spotted Owls are doing across their whole
range (as required by the Endangered Species Act), the picture is
bleak. They are essentially extinct in British Columbia -- there are
something like 4 pairs left -- and they are in rapid decline in
Washington. A Spotted Owl biologist recently stated (S. Haig,
pers. comm.) that they will, with high probability, be extinct in
Washington within 10-20 years. Oregon remains a stronghold, though
they are in decline here as well.

If ANY of the alternatives you have proposed is followed, the Spotted
Owl will rapidly (10-30 years) fade into extinction on BLM lands and
perhaps everywhere.

There is a better alternative: The Community Conservation
Alternative. You can read the details of this alternative at
http://www.oregonheritageforests.org/comconalt .

Please act to protect the Spotted Owl by adopting the Community
Conservation Alternative. Thank you.

David K. Mellinger
3798 NW Jameson Dr.
Corvallis, OR 97330